Window structure



,, Sept. 2, 1930. B. A; MORTON WINDOW STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 7, 1929 4 INVENTOR ATroRNEYs Filed Sept. 7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Vx vmww m MN m m, w 9 w H w AW v Wm 1 m/ im r :11 v u 7/ x M.

Sept. 2, 1930. B. A. MORTON 1,774,803

WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 7,1929 3 Sheets-Sheet s Fly: 5.

m A'rroRNEYs Patented Sept. 2, 1930 UNITED Barnum a. Mormon, or new YOBK, N. Y.

wmnow srrwc'rvan Application fled September 7, 1929. Serial 1T0. 390,915.

This invention relates to improvements in window constructions and has for its ob'eet to provide a novel form. of window WhlC 1s adapted for houses, railway cars,'and other structures.

The primar object of my invention is to provide a win ow wherein the several sashes or panes of the window may be operated from a single handle or other. operatmg member, and wherein any number of sashes or panes may be employed in the window, all of the panes being shifted by the single operating member into the vertical space of one of the sashes or. the whole group of sashes may be shifted into a recess in the frame, thereby providing a window opening co-extensive with the area of the window frame. 4

A further object of the invention is to provide an operatin mechanism for adjustmg the several sas sections which. is entirely concealed within the window frame and occupies but little if any more space than ordinarily allowed between the actual window casing'and the adjacent parts of the building structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamping member for the several sashes which will be not onl burglar-proof, but

weather-proof when t e window is fully.

closed, and which will holdall the sashes, whether closed or partly open, securely against rattling or displacement,

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following specification wherein I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein my improved window is illustrated,

Fig. 1 shows the window in elevation with part of the casing cut away to better show the operating mechanism;

0 Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; 5 Fig. 3 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale on line 3.3 of Figs. 1 and 4;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on line4-4 of Fig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the vertical side members of the window frame, 2 the window sill and 3 the top member of the frame. The window frame illustrated is wider than the actual window opening, in order to provide spaces 4 within which the counterweights 5 of the several movable sashes (here shown as three in number) may operate. The three movable sashes, 6*, 6", 6 respectively, lie one above the other and are guided in a single guide groove 7 formed in the vertical window casing member 8 which forms a sidewall of the window opening. Back of the groove 7 and within the compartment 4 of the counterweights is a vertical bar 9' havin a groove 10 aligned with the guide groove but of greater Width, as shown in Fig. 5.

Each of the several window sashes is provided on its side edges with projections 11 somewhat thinner than the material of the sash itself, which projections pass through the guide groove 7 into the enlarged groove 10 of the bar 9. The lower horizontal edges of the sashes are grooved as shown in Fig. 2, to fit over a corresponding projection on the upper horizontal edges of the adjacent sashes, so that when the sashes are closed down one on top of the other a weather-tight joint will be formed. In the structure shown in the drawing the sashes are of metal and the meeting edges are accurately shaped to fit. The sashes may, however, be made of wood, in which case the meeting edges should be faced with rubber to dproduce a weather-ti ht joint. Also, the win ow sashes ,may be 'spensed with entirely, in which case the meeting edges of the glass pane should be ground to fit.

Attached to each sash at a point above the middle horizontal line along the outer edge of the rib or projection 11 is a plate 12 carrying a pivot'pin 13 on which a hook-shaped The purpose of this member will be later described.

.Attached to each member 1413' a chain vwhich carries at its outer end thecounterweight 5. These chains are trained oversprocket wheels 16 supported in the window frame above the to of the casing, the several sprocket wheels being ofiset slightly with respect to each other so that the-several chains will not interfere. The counterweights 5 for the lower sash hang down directly from'the outer peripheries of the respective sprocket wheels, whereas the weights for the middle and u per sash sections, res ectively, are trained over idlers 17 so positioned that the weights will hang clear of each other. The two sprocket wheels for each sash section are connected together to rotate in unison by means of transverse'shafts 18 so that when the sprocket chains on one side of the window frame are rotated by the window-o rating mechanism, the sashes will be lifte evenly on both sides. Y

I The window-operatin mechanism comprises an operating han le '19 supported on the end of a hollow shaft 20 mounted for rotation and axial movement in bearings 21 in the window frame near the bottom at one side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The .construction of the. operating shaft and its attached'parts is shown in enlar ed detail in Fig. 6. Supported on the sha 20 between the two bearings are three sprocket wheels 22, 22", 22, correspondin to the several sash sections. Theinner perip eryof each ofthese sprockets is toothed as indicated inFig. 6,pro-

viding in effect a series of keyways adapted to receive the projecting tooth of a movable key 23 supported within the hollow shaft 20 and pressednormally outward by a spring 24. Also supported on the' hollow shaft 20 between the two bearings is a gear or pinion 25 whose inner periphery is likewise grooved to receive the end of the pivoted key 23. The

several sprockets and the gear are so arated.

by washers to facilitate their indepen ent rotation and also to insure the proper positioning of the ke for engagement with but onegear or sproc et whee The tooth 27 on the -movable key 23 is pointed, as shown in Fi 6, at an angle su h that when the hollow sha is shifted axiall in or out in the bearings 21, the key will be forced back into the hollow shaft as the ointed tooth passes under the washers 26-, t e spring pressing the key upw r y the ring.-

as soonas the apeir of the tooth passes The shifts 28, 28",- 28 which carry the sprockets 16' for the counterweight chains, are

' of different lengths, as indicated in Fig.2,

and each carries on its end a s rocket wheel 29, 29" 29, respectively, over ying the correspondingly lettered sprocket wheels on the hollow shaft 20. Continuous'sprocket chains 30 conneet the respective airs of sprocket wheels whereby the longstudinal or axial movement oif the hollow shaft 20 will serve to .this may be acbomplished by shifting the first section toward the front of the window, the second section toward the rear of the window, and allowing the third section to remain in position between the other two and in line with the groove 7. It is for the purpose of so shifting the sash sections that the hooked members 14 are provided. The two upper sash sections are provided with these members with their hooks oppositely placed, as shown in Fig.2, in order that the two sash sections may be shifted one to the front and one to the rear, leaving a space between for the third sash section to which the sprocket chains may be directly connected.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustratedthe mode of operation'of the top sash section. The hooked members 14 are slotted forthe passage of the pivoted pins 13. In the normal position of these members, that is, the posltion in which the sash sections are entirely in their closed position, the ends of the members having the hooks 31 extend u wardly,

whereas the opposite end to W ich the sprocket chains 15 are attached lie below the pivots. The parts 14 are prevented from rotating during the up and down movement of the sash'sections by the sides of the grooves- 10, these grooves being just wide enough to a groove 32 back of the groove 10 in line with the guide roove 7, which groove serves to guide the pins 33.to which the sprocket chains are attached. When the sash section.

passes above the top member of the window casing it is shifted toward the front of the window by means of the continued upward pull on the chain 5 on the members 14. That is to say, in operating the mechanism to raise the sashes the operator has only to continue the rotation of the handle 19 a partial turn beyondthe distance necessary to elevate the sash and this continued movement serves to shift the sash section out of line with the guide groove to permit the next sash section to be raised into its proper place. The mechanism to accomplish this consists primarily of guides 34Isupported in the window frame above the top horizontal member of the window casing. This top casing member is its edge guide 7 is clear of the groove 8 and the further movements of the sashes controlled by the members 14.

Above the 'window casing the recess in the face of the vertical bar 9 is enlarged as shown, and the guides 34 are attached to the opposite front edges of the bar 9 practically overlying the recess. Each guide consists of a metal plate of a thickness to engage the pivoted members 14 and the pin33. At their lower ends the edges of the two guides are extended at the back to provide ribs 34 for guiding the pins 33, while at the front the edges of the guides are spaced apart va sufficient distance to engage the opposite side edges of the members 14 and prevent them from turning until the lower .edges of the sash sections clear the top of the window casing. About the middle of their length the guides 34 are cut away so that the edges of the guides fiare outwardlyfrom each other to permit the hooked members 14 to turn on their pivoted pins asthey pass into the wider space.

It will be understood, of course, that the pin 33 is offset somewhat with respect to the slot 14 so that the sprocket chain lies slightly to the rear of the pin 13, hence when the flared portion of the guides is reached the pull on the sprocket chain will tend toturn the hooked member of the upper sash, as viewed in Fig. 3, in a counterclockwise direction to the extent permitted by distance between the guides.

The members 14 at each end of the sash are operated in unison by reason of the transverse shafts and beveled gears at the to of the window frame, and when these mem ers are permitted by the widening distance between the guides 34 to turn beyond the horizontal, the sash sections will be shifted to the front as far as permitted by the pin-andsl t connection between the members 14 and the sash section, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. At this point the guides 34 are provide with recesses 35 so shaped that when the members 14 reach this position the hooks 31 will extend into the recesses and'thus prevent further turning movement of the members 14 under the pull of the sprocket chains.

1 The lateral movement permitted by the vpin-and-slot connection is suflioient to shift the sash section clear of the slot in the window casing to permit the second sash section to be elevated to a position behind the first sash section. To operate the second sash-section the operating handle 19 is shifted outwardly a suflicientdistance to bring the point of the key 23 beyond the ring 26 lying between the sprocket 22" and the sprocket 22",

so that the key will be pressed outwardly into onebf the grooves of the inner periphery of the sproc et 22". In this position the rotation ofe'the handle will turn the sprockets 22", 29", and the corresponding beveled gears and transverse shafts to rotate the sprocket wheels for the corresponding counterweights, in unison. As stated above, the hook-shaped members 14 for the sash section 6" are the same as those provided for the top sash section exce t that the hooks are oppositely faced and t e pin 33 is'oifset to the rear of the slot '14 instead of to the front, whereby when the hooked sectionsare free to turn as the members 14 ass into the widened space between the gui e members34, they will turn in a clockwise direction instead of in a counterclockwise direction, as will be obvious.

The members 14 are pivoted to the ends of the sash section 6" a somewhat greater distance from the upper edge of the sash section than are the pins 13 of section 22", also the notches 35 of the rear guide 34 are located below the notches in the front guide, so that the members 14 of the sash section 6" will turn to shift the section to the rear without interference with the members 14 of the section .6", as indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 3.

The purpose of the hooks 31 is to insure the return of the sash sections to a position over the vertical guide grooves, and also to insure a return ofthe members 14 to their normal position. When the chains which lift the windows are drawn to their u permost position, as shown in Fig. 3, the ooks 31 will be projected into the notches 35 in the guides 34. Now, when the operating shaft is turned in the opposite direction to ower the sash, the hooks will serve as pivots for the outer ends of the members 14, thereby caustions will slide .to the opposite ends of the grooves in the members 14, thereby restorlng the sash to its position over the guide grooves.

As the sash continues to descend the memd bers 14 will continue to turn until they are almost restored to vertical position, at which point the hooks will clear the notches in the edges ofthe guides and allow the sash to descend freely to its closed position or to whatever other position it is adjusted by the operation of the handle 19.

The operating handle is also utilized for clamping the sash sections against movement when the window is closed, or in any desired partially open position. This clamping mechanism 1s operated by means of the gear 25 carried by the shaft 20. I have shown two modifications'of the window-operating mechanism, the preferred form being shown in Figs. 1-5 inclusive. As here shown, the gear 25 meshes with a short rack section 40 carried by a vertical bar 41 mounted for vertical movement on the inner face of the vertical window frame members 9, The bar .41 is supported by means of'inclined slots 42 on pins 43 projectingfrom the adjacent face of the frame member 9, so that when the bar is elevated by the rotation of the ear 25 and the rack section 40, it will be ted toward the left, as shown in Figs. 3, sand 15, to thereby clamp against the vprojecting edges 11 of the sashmembers.

Obviousl also, when the operating shaft 19 is turne in the opposite direction, the bar 41 will be shifted away from the sash sections, thereby releasing them for operation. The clamping bar 41 serves not only to clamp the sash sections by reason of the force exerted through the operating handle, but if it be attempted to raise the sash section without operating the handle to shift the bar clear of the edges 9, the bar will be pressed more tightly against the sash sections by reason of the wedging action of the inclined slots on" the pins 43.

If the ceiling heightabove the 'window frame is sufiicient, the sash sections may be shifted entirely out of the window opening,

but in order to provide as much illumination anism shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the gear is utilized to actuate a rack bar 46 which is mounted for vertical movement only in the same position as the bar 41. The rack bar 46 is provided with several rack sections 48 which cooperate with the pinions 49 supported on pins 50, which in turn are mounted for rotation in stationary bearings 51 attached to the vertical frame member 9 adjacent the several sash sections. The pins .50 are threaded as shown in Fig. 7, and carried by the threads are nuts'52 which are also supported in the bearings 51 forlongitndinal movement therein. The nuts are welded or otherwise'sev cured to an angle bar 53 whose edge extends into the groove 10 adjacent the ribs 11 of the sash sections so that when the pinions 49 are rotated by the movement of the rack bar 46,

I the bar 53 will clamp the sashes against movement.

' In Fig. 9 I have shown an arrangement wherein the sash sections are lowered into a compartment below the window sill. This mechanism is the same as that employed inf the first described construction except that the hook 14" is of modified construction so as to shift the sash out of line with the guide groove 10 on the downward movement of the sash instead .of the upward movement.

The hook l4 is attached to the sash sections by means of a pin 13' working in a slot in the hook as before but the chain 15 is attached to the hook by a pin 33 at the middle of the hook instead of at the end so that the point of the book will be raised on sidewise movement of the sash,instead of lowered.

During the movement of the sash in the guide groove the point of the hook extends downwardly and the pin 13 lies at the inner end of its slot immediately over the pin 33" so that, except when the pins have an-exact dead center relation to each other the weight of the sash tends to turn the hook I about the pin 33as a center. A very! light spring 61 may be provided to initiate the tilting movement but this is not necessary. At the proper point below the sill the side walls 34 of the channel in which the hooks are guided are shaped to permit the hooks toturn so as to shift the bottom sash 6 to the right as shown in Fig.9, and the middle sash to the leftso that the third sash may drop between them. In turning, the pointed ends of the hooks are projected into recesses 62 in the walls 34 so that when the sashes are raised the hooks will be turned in the reverse direction. V I

It will of course be understood that the mechanism may be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the inven-- tion. Electric'motors might readily be provided for operating the window sections, in which case the motors could be mounted in the space above the windows and controlled by push buttons arranged at any oint alongside the window frame. Also, 0 course, the

number of sash sections maybe greater or less. No change in the mechanism will be required in order to provide a greater number of sash sections, other than the necessary duplication of the counterweights, sprocket chains and sprocket wheels. The same mechanism may be used for shifting any number of sash sections out of line with the guide grooves by simply making the parts of the proper dimensions to insure a lateral shift of suflicientamplitude.

The, window is thoroughly weather-proof. The several sash sections fit closely together and as the clamping bar 41 extends the entire height of the window and firmly clamps the edges of the sashesagainst the outside portion of the window, casing, there is no possibility of rain or wind entering. The window is of pleasing appearance and readily adapts itself to different pane designs. Also,

- unmounted sheets of plate glass may be used,

giving a virtually unbroken lightopening when the window is closed as well as when open.

I claim: I

.1. In a window structure the combination of a plurality of sashes mounted for vertical 7 movement, means for shifting one of said sashes transversely out of the path of its vertical movement, and an actuating mechanism for efiecting bothmovements of said sash. y

2. In a window structure the combination of a plurality of sashes mounted for vertical movement, means for shifting one of said sashes transversely out of the path of its vertical movement, an actuating mechanism for efi'ectin both movements of said sash, said actuating member comprising a rotary operating member and means whereby continued rotation of said member successively efl'ects both said movements.

3. In a window structure the combination of a plurality of sashes mounted for vertical movement, means for shifting a plurality of sashes transversely out of the path of their vertical movement, mechanism for moving said sashes in the manner described, and a common operatingmember for said sashes.

4. In a window structure the combination of a plurality of sashes mounted for vertical movement, means for shifting a plurality of sashes transversely out of the path of their vertical inoveinent, mechanism for moving said sashes in the manner described, and a common operating member for said sashes,

said member comprising manually adjustable means for selecting the sash to be operated thereby.

5. In a window the combination of a plurality of sashes vertically movable in the same plane into and out of the window opening, and means for simultaneously clamping all the sashes in said window opening against movement.

6. In a window the combination. of a plurality of sashes vertically movable in the same plane into and out of the window opening, and means for simultaneously clamping all the sashes in said window opening against movement in any position of adjustmerit therein.

7 In a window a plurality of sashessupported for rectilinear movement in the same plane, means for ad usting certain of said sashes in opposite directions out of said plane,

' and means for adjusting a third .sash into position between the first-mentioned sashes.

8. In a window, a plurality pfsashes vertically adjustable in the same lane, a common operating member for a justing said sashes, a clamping device for'simultaneously clamping a plurality of sashes against movement, said clamping device being actuated by said common operating member.

In testimonly whereof I aflix m signature.

ENJAMIN A. ORTON. 

